a top obama adviser dismissing romney's debate performance as fundamentally dishonest. >> mitt romney will say absolutely anything to get elected. >> reporter: one of romney's top advisers asailed the administration response to the jobs report. >> this economy is not doing well. the fact that you have a white house celebrating an unemployment rate of 7.8% with 23 million americans out of work or unemployed or underemployed tells you a lot about the failure of this administration's policies. >> reporter: romney made a delivered shift towards sharing a more compassionate side, something he long resisted, in three rallies recounting memories of a 14-year-old he befriended with leukemia. >> he asked me a difficult question. he said mitt, what's next. he called me brother romney, what's next. david passed away. i'll always remember, never forget his courage, his clear eyes, his full heart. david can't lose. i love the greatness of the soul of the american people. >> reporter: and this week's main event, in fact, won't include mitt romney or president obama. it is the vice presidential deba